How much does it cost per year?

With normal use all year it uses about 250 kWh a year: about $45 · £65 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.

Set 4–5 °C in the fridge and −18 °C in the freezer: each degree colder adds about 5% to consumption. Leave a few centimetres behind and above for the heat to escape, and keep it away from the oven.

🧊 Fridge

How much electricity does a fridge use? kWh per year by energy class

Yearly fridge electricity use by energy class and age, with the running cost and when it pays to replace it.

Typical use

250 kWh/year

Per month

$3.75 · £5.417

Per year · 250 kWh

$45 · £65

With normal use all year, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

A fridge runs all year round and is one of the biggest items on the bill. A recent fridge freezer uses 130–250 kWh a year; one from twenty years ago can use 600.

The exact figure is on the energy label, in kWh/annum. Since 2021 EU labels use the new A–G scale: an old “A+” roughly equals today’s class E or F.

Consumption compared

Type	Usage	kWh/year	Cost/year
Fridge freezer, new label class A–B	130 kWh/year	130	$23 · £34
Fridge freezer, new label class D–E	240 kWh/year	240	$43 · £62
American side-by-side fridge	400 kWh/year	400	$72 · £104
10–15 year old fridge	450 kWh/year	450	$81 · £117
Fridge over 20 years old	600 kWh/year	600	$108 · £156

Yearly cost with normal use all year.

Work out your cost

Consumption from the labelkWh/yearElectricity price$/kWh

Per month: $3.75
Per year: $45
Energy per year: 250 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

Set 4–5 °C in the fridge and −18 °C in the freezer: each degree colder adds about 5% to consumption.
Leave a few centimetres behind and above for the heat to escape, and keep it away from the oven.
Check the door seals: if a sheet of paper shut in the door slides out easily, warm air is getting in.

Lower-energy modelsCompare prices and energy labels on AmazonAmazon ↗

FAQ

How much electricity does a fridge use?: On average about 250 kWh a year, from 90 to 650 kWh depending on model, energy class and age.
How much does it cost per year?: With normal use all year it uses about 250 kWh a year: about $45 · £65 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?: Set 4–5 °C in the fridge and −18 °C in the freezer: each degree colder adds about 5% to consumption. Leave a few centimetres behind and above for the heat to escape, and keep it away from the oven.

🧊GuideHow much does an old fridge cost to run? Should you replace it?

And what does your whole home use?

The calculator estimates heating, hot water and appliances and tells you what to change first.

Run the free calculator →

Consumption compared

How to use less

FAQ

Other appliances